I'm struck with a moral dilemma over a satirical piece that I want to write. I'm hesitating writing it because it might be in bad taste. Normally being in bad taste isn't a deterrent to me, as someone who thinks that The Whitest Kids U'Know is the most goddamn funny sketch comedy group of the last twenty years, but the idea I have crosses a line that I'm not comfortable crossing.
As I have touched on before, Apple has specific language in it's iTunes End User Liscence Agreement forbidding it's users from using it's products for the purpose of terrorism. It's buried deep in the agreement, just pull it up, press Ctrl+F, and search for "biological weapons". Really, it's there. According to reports, the terrorist group ISIS is using iPhones in the production of several of the recent videos that they have released. These videos are clearly used for the purpose of terrorism, which would run in conflict with the iTunes EULA. My idea was to say that Apple, using it's vast sum of riches and influence, was using it's power to take down ISIS in ways that the US and other government are unable to.
Here's the problem: In order to write this piece, I'd have to reference the recent videos showing the beheading of journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley. I could dance around those videos and not directly reference them, but inevitable someone reading the post would remember the media reports of those beheadings, and make the connection for themselves. Given the nature of the videos, I do not want to have such a connection to my work be made. So, I hesitate in writing the piece in question. Is this what it's like to have a soul? I haven't had one since I sold mine for money to buy some disappointing sponges.
Satire is a kind of writing that seeks
to put everyday things into an absurd context for the purpose of pointing out
the inherent absurdity of that thing.Most satire is directed at political figures, but can also be directed
at celebrities, businessmen, athletes, as well as typical ordinary
citizens.Satire is most often used to
make some sort of statement that the writer feels is being ignored by most of
society.Satire can be a way to put an
issue in a context that is more understandable for the audience.
An example of satire is the Monty Python
sketch "The Ministry of Silly Walks"."The Ministry of Silly Walks", as performed by John Cleese and
Michael Palin, is meant to point out the many, various, and often useless
departments in the British federal government.The concept of a department of the government giving grants to people
developing "silly walks" is of an absurd nature, while also being a
slight exaggeration of things that were being funded by the British government.
Many other sketch comedy troupes utilize
satire in their acts.Examples of this
include "It's Illegal To Say" by The Whitest Kids U'Know, the CCCP-1 Episode of SCTV, and the Communism sketch by The Kids In The Hall.
Although often presented as such, a
satirical piece of work is not necessarily comedic.As example of a non-comedic satirical work is
Arthur Miller's The Crucible.First
performed in 1953, The Crucible takes many of the elements of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, which people attacked as a witch hunt, and
applied it to an actual witch hunt.
For a while now I've been thinking of doing a blog post about the best graphic novels I've ever read. This is that blog post. Also included in this post, some fucked up comedy from The Whitest Kids U'Know. Enjoy!
Footnotes In Gaza is a 2009 release by Joe Sacco. There are very few histories of the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians that I've come across that are as in depth as this book is. Rarer is one told from the Palestinian's perspective. Joe Sacco takes interviews, government reports, vocal histories, and first hand account, and crafts a tale that truly changed my way of thinking about this conflict. The events that are detailed in this book are shocking. Not just that it happened, but also that the Israelis could do this to other people. Link to Amazon
Blankets is a 2003 release by Craig Thompson. Blankets is one of those rare things that I like. It's not that it's a coming of age tale, nor that it's a love story peppered with occasional sex. Blankets is a graphic novel with a lot of religious aspects to it, and I still like it. Usually when I encounter religion in literature, I usually shy away because it either bashes religion or tries to convert me. Blankets does not do that. Blankets deals with religion as most people do. Religion is a part of the protagonist's life, and because of that it affects the way he approaches a burgeoning relationship. Blankets is sweet, romantic, funny, and touching in a deep way. Link to Amazon
Logicomix: An Epic Search is a 2009 release Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou. Character design and artwork are by Alecos Papadatos and color is by Annie Di Donna. Logicomix is a biography of the theoretical mathematician Bertram Russell. Wait! Don't go yet! This is actually interesting, which I know is shocking given the high amount of math contained in this book. Russell approaches math the same way that philosophers like Derrida, and Butler approach language. Russell attacks the very foundations of math in a way that is driven purely by logic. Russell even attacks the very elemental and basic concept of 1+1=2. Is it this approach to logic that causes Russell to give a speech about his views about World War I, which has allusions to the Iraq War. Link to Amazon
On an raised stage, two chairs it with two people sitting in them as the lights turn up revealing them. Julia Diana Bobbi- Good evening, and welcome to the 10.10 Billion Dollar Question. I am your host Julia Diana Bobbi. Before I introduce the contestant, we have a word from our sponsor. Exxon Mobile is proud to bring you the prize for the 10.10 Billion Dollar Question. Exxon Mobile, we have that much money. Exxon Mobile, gasoline, bitches! Julia Diana Bobbi- Welcome back. Our contestant tonight on the 10.10 Billion Dollar Question is Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Mr. Strauss-Kahn is a french citizen currently in New York for a reason he does not wish to discuss. Doominque, it's great to have you here. DSK- It's great to be hear. You have very attractive breasts.
Julia is creeped out by this comment.
Julia Diana Bobbi- Okay thanks. Are you ready to play the game? DSK- You have very shapely legs. Julia Diana Bobbi- I'll take that as a yes. Dominique, I will give you three questions. DSK- I'd like to give you something.
Julia starts rummaging around in her purse.
DSK- Do you have protection in there, because I'm not into that.
Julia pulls a canister of mace out of her purse.
Julia Diana Bobbi- Sir, if you don't stop making passes at me, I will use this mace on you.
Dominique looks at Julia and her mace spray in the way that gives off a kind of Bond villain vibe.
DSK- How did you know I was into that fetish?
Julia looks at Dominique sternly then puts her mace canister away, then attempts to press on.
Julia Diana Bobbi- Dominique, I'm going to give you three questions. If you answer all three of these questions correctly, you will win the 10.10 Billion Dollar prize. Do you have a plan for this money? DSK- Can I buy your underwear? Julia Diana Bobbi- You are a very gross person. Are you ready to play the game? DSK- I am always ready. Julia Diana Bobbi- Lets play the game.
An over blow light display is triggered, ending with Julia and Dominique still sitting on the same raised platform as before.
Julia Diana Bobbi- Dominique, what is Marginalism? DSK- Marginalism refers to the use of marginal concepts in economic theory. Julia Diana Bobbi- Correct. What is The Four Asian Tigers? DSK- The Four Asian Tigers or Asian Dragons is a term used in reference to the highly developed economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan after 1970. Julia Diana Bobbi- Correct. Only one question left before you win the big prize. DSK- Which is you? Julia Diana Bobbi- Dominique, what is no?
Dominique gets a strange look on his face.
DSK- Excuse me? Julia Diana Bobbi- What is no? DSK- No? Julia Diana Bobbi- What is no?
Dominique thinks for a second, then says-
DSK- I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with that concept. Julia Diana Bobbi- What? DSK- I am not familiar with the concept of no. Julia Diana Bobbi- Really? DSK- Yes, can you tell me what no is? Julia Diana Bobbi- I'm not going to do that. Perhaps you can learn the concept of no in jail. DSK- I can teach you many things. For instance, do you know what a Savoie Handstand is? Julia Diana Bobbi- I am going away now. If you follow me, there are very large people with very large guns who will stop you. DSK- No one can stop me, for I am rich. Julia Diana Bobbi- Rich people still get shot. Well, that's all for the 10.10 Billion Dollar Question, I am Julia Diana Bobbi. I'm going to leave now before this creepy French man get any closer to me. Goodnight.
The lights start to dim on the raised platform. As the do so, Julia gets out of her chair and sprints off stage. Dominique starts after her, but can't go very quickly as he is old.
Take your normal superhero origin story. Guy gets powers, guy realizes he has powers, guy goes out to save the world. Now factor this in: the guy has a score to settle.
Everybody wonders what it is that makes them who they are. The Hawk thought that question was securely answered. However a meeting with a boy in a hospital causes him to question everything. Why he is, who he is, what he is, and even if he is.
Eleven years after the events of Consequences Of Mayorust, The Hawk finds himself dealing with many of the same issues that many of us deal with: A less than satisfying job, co-workers of variant annoyance, and a romantic life is unhealthy at best. Thrust into all this is Madison Medina, a well meaning woman who's adversarial relationship with The Hawk morphs into a kind of friendship. Madison, in addition to learning more about herself and her abilities, help to reveal deeper problems inside the organization both she and The Hawk work for.
In every workplace there is a person. A person who doesn't talk to anyone, has walled themselves socially, and seems openly hostile to everyone. Every workplace has this person, even if you don't know of such a person, they're there. The Black Robin Christmas Carol is the story of one of these people. It delves into who this person is, why this person is, and how this person can change for the better.
There is a story. A story of pain, a story of loss, a story of unspeakable horrors, a story that has not been given it's proper attention. Some are ignoring this story. Some are unaware of this story. Some know of this story but are complicit in it's darkness. This is a story that must be told. Told so that the good can stop it and the bad can feel shame for it.
When I thought up thig blog, the name I first thought up was "Random Bullshit". Quickly I recognized that this name would put some people off. Then I thought of the name "Random Bull****". That seemed to be to much clutter. Then I was inspired with the name that dons this blog today.
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